The North Londoners are second in the table, unbeaten and head to Moscow for tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with CSKA in good heart, if not good health.

Harry Kane is missing and a scan on his ankle this week will determine whether it is a month or longer. Danny Rose and Eric Dier face fitness tests before they leave for Moscow and Moussa Sissoko may have concussion.

Yet without Kane, Rose, Dier and Mousa Dembele — plus Lamela from the start — Spurs still tore a nervy Middlesbrough to shreds.

They should have at least doubled Heung-min Son’s 23-minute double by half-time. But Victor Valdes only had one serious save to make as the majority of their 18 shots sailed off target.

Calum Chambers struggles to get to grips with Dutch striker Vincent Janssen as Spurs win in style

Consequently, they had to endure a Boro revival when Ben Gibson headed Stewart Downing’s deep free-kick over Hugo Lloris.

But Spurs do not concede from open play and the French keeper had just one simple save to make.

Although peeved his side had not converted more of their chances, Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with the progress of players who were on the fringes of last season and the impact of his new additions.

Kane’s stand- in Vincent Janssen had a fine assist for Son’s first.

Pochettino is particularly pleased that he convinced the South Korean to snub Werder Bremen in the summer.

Son now has four goals this season and a growing reputation among the Spurs faithful, who thoroughly enjoyed their first visit to Teesside in eight years.

Son dominated the first half as Spurs made it four wins from their unbeaten start

“And there is an expectation on players like him when they arrive in a new country with a different style of football and he struggled to settle but he’s working very hard and that is the most important thing.

“Not all players would be able to do that. I’m impressed with him as a man as well as a footballer. He’s a very nice person and how he works is impressive.

“If you work hard in football and have patience, you can pay back and in this case the last few games he is scoring and it’s very good for him and for us.

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“I’m not surprised. When you sign a player you expect him to do well and you believe in him. Sometimes they are good and sometimes because of different situation they need more time to settle in the team, but I never doubted his quality.”

Son added: “I am very happy now. It was good to talk to the manager. All I have wanted to do is play in the Premier League, it is the best league.

“I am very happy to stay here and to be out on the pitch.

‘I am staying here and I am very happy. I like playing for Tottenham and I like scoring goals and why not, I am very happy now.

‘I wanted to ask him to play more. This is true and I am a football player, every player wants to play games.

“The gaffer gave me a chance and I am very grateful to him, he has given me this chance to play. I am very happy now. He was very honest with me.”